Bromley

Bromley's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in marriage, housing tenure and religion.

The population reached nearly 310,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Bromley increased by 4.7%, from just under 296,000 to 309,000.

The addition of just under 14,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Bromley was home to, on average, 15 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it London's least densely-populated borough.

Population density was lower than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Bromley

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Bromley increased by two years, from 38 to 40 years.

This affluent suburban area had the highest average age in London and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 9,300 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 6,000.

About 16% of people in Bromley are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Bromley by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Bromley

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Bromley at a faster rate than across London.

In Bromley, the proportion of single people increased from 30% in 2001 to 34% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 41% to 44%.

Across London, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 41% to 44%.

The proportion of married people in Bromley fell from 52% to 49%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.8% to 11%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Bromley that rented privately increased from 8.5% to 13% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 14%, while the percentage of Bromley households that owned their home decreased from 75% to 71%.

The proportion of privately rented homes decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across London. As a result, this area had Greater London's third lowest proportion of privately rented homes.

Bexley had London's second lowest proportion of privately rented homes (11%), while Havering had the region's first lowest proportion (11%).

Private renting in Bromley increased by 4.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Bromley, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Bromley, which comprised one person, remained close to 31% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 11 (8.9%) households had an unmarried couple, compared with 8.2% in 2001. The percentage of households in Bromley which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 36% to 34%.

The proportion of one-person households increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of London (from 35% in 2001 to 32% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 30%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across London

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Bromley residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.7% to 2.0% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.8%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 1.7% in 2001 to 1.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Bromley remained close to 2.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Bromley by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Bromley

Bromley saw London's third-largest rise in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.2%) in Bromley reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.4% in 2001. The percentage who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.2% to 6.9%.

Across the region, only Bexley (from 2.9% to 3.8%) and Harrow (from 2.9% to 3.7%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

During this period, Bromley went from having the 22nd-highest to the 16th-highest percentage of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability out of 309 English local authority areas.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Bromley

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 28% said they had no religion. An increase from 18% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Bromley.

The percentage increased by more than the average across London (from 16% to 21%), but at a similar rate to the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Bromley that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 210,000 in 2001 to about 190,000 in 2011 (from 72% to 61%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 23,000 to about 24,000 (from 7.6% to 7.8%).

About 7,800 people (1.7%) said they were Muslim, up from just over 4,900 in 2001 (2.5%).

The population without a religion in Bromley increased by 9.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Bromley by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Bromley

In 2011, 84% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. A decrease from 92% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Bromley.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across London (from 71% to 60%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Bromley from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from just over 8,600 in 2001 to just under 19,000 in 2011 (from 2.9% to 6.0%). The number of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 9,300 to just over 16,000 (from 3.2% to 5.2%).

Just under 11,000 people (1.9%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from about 5,500 in 2001 (3.5%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Bromley decreased by 7.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Bromley by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Bromley residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.0% to 4.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 72% in 2001. While the percentage of Bromley residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.3% in 2001 to 5.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Bromley decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Bromley, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Bromley working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14% to 11% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.1% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 13% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Bromley decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Bromley, London and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Families in Bromley

The percentage of households without children fell in Bromley, but at a slower rate than in Croydon (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Bromley).

In Bromley, the proportion of households without children decreased from 61% in 2001 to 59% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Croydon decreased from 59% to 54%.

Across London, the share of households without children decreased from 62% to 60%.

The proportion of households with children in Bromley increased from 29% to 30%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.7% to 10%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across London

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Bromley residents that were unemployed increased from 2.7% to 3.9% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (54%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 55% in 2001. The percentage of Bromley residents that were self-employed increased from 10% to 12%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 4.4% in 2001 to 5.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Bromley increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Bromley, London and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

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